Food For thought...

Sure, Thanksgiving is about eating, but the good news is the traditional festive meal doesn’t have to ruin your efforts towards a healthier lifestyle. Try the following tips to ensure a healthy and delicious thanksgiving day!

Add some pumpkin!

Pumpkin is a great food that we usually eat at Thanksgiving. A matter of fact, canned pumpkin is higher in vitamins than fresh pumpkin. Add pumpkin to soups, breads, or even mashed potatoes.

More veggies less bread

Make stuffing with less bread and add more onions, celery, vegetables, or fruits such as dried cranberries or apples.

Decrease the fat in your gravy

Use a fat separator or refrigerate the pan juices and skim the fat off before making the gravy. This can save about 55 grams of fat per cup and help you to avoid having greasy gravy!

Don’t forget the veggies

Thanksgiving is such a great time to get in all of those wonderful fall veggies. Sweet potatoes, yams, squash, and green beans are a great way to add more vegetable side dishes!

Pies

If you don’t have a preference, opt for pumpkin pie instead of pecan pie and save hundreds of calories and fat.

Don’t Rush!

Slow down, savor your food, and enjoy your family and friends! Give yourself a chance to feel full and satisfied. Remember, it isn’t the last time you will eat these foods and you can always have more of the leftovers tomorrow!

Partake in some fun activities

Take a leisurely walk, go for a bike ride, or start a family tradition of playing touch football. Enjoy some movement!

Most importantly…

Have fun sharing your thanksgiving meal and celebrating your family’s traditions.